COMMUNITY // open doors
yoga vibe
West Hollywood
7327 Santa Monica Blvd.,
323-498-5333; yogavibela.com
Locally owned and homegrown, Yoga Vibe WeHo, sister studio
to Yoga Vibe Los Feliz and Black Dog Yoga in Sherman Oaks, is the
quintessential neighborhood yoga studio. “We strive to be the kind
of studio that is embedded in the community,” says co-owner Larry
Santiago. Heralded as the non-corporate and indie option, Yoga Vibe
is not about the frills or pageantry but pure, simple practice. Walking
into the reception space, I felt as if I had traversed Los Angeles terrain
to have looped back to my own living room. The simple elegance of
this one room yoga space is calming in and of itself. While it’s in the
midst of a bustling city, it definitely fulfills what Santiago describes as
a “peaceful and calm oasis in the city.”
The Yoga Vibe studios have a distinct character and charm. Each
of the teachers is afforded the opportunity to brand their own classes
with the freedom to personalize their offerings, “showcasing their
strengths and personality.”
Classes such as Morning Vibes, Chill Vibes, or Mixed Level Flow
(offered at WeHo) differ from teacher to teacher and studio to studio.
Santiago says “Los Feliz is more Vinyasa Flow for all levels and Black
Dog is more well-rounded.” Their latest addition to the family, Yoga
Vibe West Hollywood, opened in June. In addition to Brunch Vibes,
Vin/Yin, and more, WeHo offers $10 Lunch Flow from 12:15-1:15pm.
These proud parents (Larry and Amy Santiago and Sigrid Mat-
thews) of independently operated yoga spaces are listening to the
community and meeting their needs, one pose and kind smile at a time.By Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers. Marja is a yoga
therapist in Los Angeles who teaches yoga and meditation around the globe:
yogafordancers.comLOCALI
West Hollywood
8730 Santa Monica Blvd. Unit D
424-302-0464; localiyours.com
LOCALI is the deli-style restaurant where you can take your vegan
first date, meat-loving grandmother, and fast food addicted coworker
alike. Their concept is a combo deli/natural foods market plus conve-
nience store with nutritious, thoughtful, organic offerings. Their new-
est LA outpost in West Hollywood is conveniently located on Santa
Monica Boulevard between San Vicente and La Cienega.
The team at LOCALI has pioneered conscious food for Los Angelenos
from Venice to Hollywood to DTLA. While their downtown Localita
& the Badasserie is completely vegan, Venice, Hollywood, and their
new WeHo location offer chicken, turkey, and tuna sandwich options.
Do not despair! They have also invested in carefully crafting their
vegan analogues. Any meal on their delectable menu can be made
meat-friendly or free, paleo, vegan, and vegetarian without losing a
stitch of the original flavor profile. If you labored with Shakespeare on
“To gluten or not to gluten,” you can question no further. All options
are on the deli table. I tried the vegan chili and shamrock shake and
tasted the best meal of my entire year.
Not only does LOCALI treat its customers like family, but they
maintain an egalitarian environment among employees. “Our staff is
our first customer,” says co-founder Melissa Rosen. “That love and
respect with our staff is reflected with the customers. The relationships
we have with our customers is what touches our hearts the most.”
Weekly, daily, and multi-day regulars frequent LOCALI because the
food is delicious, the ambiance is delightful, and, in a city of millions,
at LOCALI, everyone knows your name.
Join LOCALI WeHo for their official grand opening November 16,
5-8:00pm. The first 100 guests will receive free food and free swag bags.By Marja Lankinen, founder and CEO of Yoga for Dancers, is a yoga therapist in
Los Angeles who teaches yoga and meditation around the globe: yogafordancers.com